AMHERST-So much for the ratings.

The Harvard baseball team, ranked fourth in this week's New England poll, downed UMass, ranked second, 3-1, yesterday at Lorden Field.

In a survey so far as to pick UMass, winner of five straight games before yesterday, as the top team in the region. The Minutemen are 9-3 overall but 6-1 in the Atlantic 10's Eastern Division.

Harvard, although tied for fourth after a weekend of EIBL competition, is clearly a better team. The win lifts the Crimson to 7-6; today the Crimson woke up over .500 for the first time since the second day of the season.

Aside from that, the game itself didn't mean a heck of a lot. It is one of only four non-tournament games on the Harvard schedule that doesn't count in either the Greater Boston League or the EIBL.

Because of this, and in deference to Mother Nature's 40-degree welcome, the coaches agreed before the game to shorten the contest to seven innings.

The frigid weather didn't put a damper on Crimson sophomore Chris Marchok's performance. For his second straight start, Marchok (2-1) yielded just three hits in six innings. This time he struck out seven while walking just two.

"The kid's a good pitcher," said Coach Alex Nahigian.

Marchok was slightly less terse. "It feels good and I'm finally finding a groove," he said. "Jimmy [DePalo] says I've been throwing harder each game."

In the ongoing search for a regular third baseman, senior Scott Vierra became the fourth Crimson starter at that position. Vierra fielded the hot corner as a freshman, but he's been playing left ever since.

He had three chances yesterday, all of which he handled confidently.

Reliever Chris Schindler started the seventh inning for the Crimson, got one quick out, but then gave up three straight hits. With the tying run at the plate, Jim Chenevey same in and struck out both pinch hitter Tony Szklany and Minuteman batting leader Todd Comeau to end the game.

The Crimson had jumped out to a lead in the first, when Mickey Maspons's two-out single to left scored Tony DiCesare from second, and brought Jim Depalo from first to third. When Vierra walked to lead them up, and Chris McAndrews took the first pitch for a ball, Minuteman starter Brett Valentini headed for the showers.

McAndrews slapped a line drive into center field, but Steve Messina's diving grab saved at least two runs.

In the fourth, Jay McNamara's one-out single and bounced to the fence. McNamara bounced to third base. Paul Vallone's squeeze scored McNamara, and Vallone reached base when pitcher Mick Wydra couldn't handle the ball.

Vallone stole second, and scored one out later on a Bob Kay single up the middle. Crimson 3, Minutemen 1 at Lorden Field HARVARD  MASSACHUSETTS   ab  r  h  bi  ab  r  h  bi DiCsaress  3  1  1  0  Kingman if  3  0  1  1 Kay 2b  3  0  1  1  Sheran rf  2  0  0  0 DePaloc  3  0  1  0  Szklanyph  1  0  0  0 Rivera 1b  4  0  1  0  Comwaudh  4  0  1  0 Maspns dh  2  0  1  1  Cimini 1b  3  0  0  0 Ander pr  0  0  0  0  Salustriss  3  0  0  0 Vierrs 3b  2  0  0  0  Allen 3b  3  0  0  0 McAndws rf  4  0  0  0  Messina cf  2  0  1  0 McNmara if  3  1  1  0  Flintc  3  1  1  0 Vallone cf  0  1  0  1  O'Cnnor 2b  3  0  2  0 Total  24  3  6  3  Total  27  1  6  1 Harvard  100  200  0-3 Massachusetts  000  000  1-1

Game-Winning RBI-Maspons, DP-Massachusetts 1, E-Kay, Wydra, Sheran, LOB-Harvard 10, Massachusetts 8, 3B-Rivera, SB-Kay, Vallone, Vierra, CS-Vallone, Messina, S-Kay, Vallone.   IP  H  ER  BB  SO Harvard Marchok W 2-1  6  3  0  0  2  7 Schindler  1/3  3  1  1  0  0 Chenevey S,1  2/3  0  0  0  0  2 Massachusetts Valentini L,0-1  2/3  2  1  1  2  0 Wydra  31/3  3  2  0  2  1 Allard  1  1  0  0  1  1 Martin  1  0  0  0  1  2 Jensen  1  0  0  0  0  0 HBP-Maspons by Jensen, Sheran by Marchok. T-2:28  A-23